[PRCo] Re: Streetcars in D.C.

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

________________________________
> From: robert simpson <bobs at pacbell.net>
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: Thu, April 8, 2010 4:10:52 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Streetcars in D.C.

> Wonder if they were intended to be "ugly" -
> or if it was really state-of-the-art for the era in
> which they were originally built? 
> They didn't have as efficient insulation at that time.

> Bob 
> from Krazy Kalifornia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Mr.Simpson;

As stated the 'ugliness' of the overhead as intentional is
postulation;  'insider' confirmation would be needed as
foundation for 'proving' such a charge wouldn't it.  The
history of Pats hostility toward trolleys is well documented
from Mr.Dameron through the authority's balking at the
rebuilding of the Overbrook line which seems quite
successful now completed.  This gives some credence
to the postulation.

Insulation is hardly the problem;  it is the massive towers
used to hold up the overhead.  Some have commented
such towers are more in line with the mainline PRR RR
and GG1 operation.  Simple span or floating span
overhead was in use by a very high percentage of
light rail operations world wide when this unsightly
Pgh overhead was constructed.  This lends more
credence to the postulation when much simpler
overhead is available doesn't it.

Mr.Swindler mentions Pat was advised not to install
such heavy overhead yet ignored the advice.  Again,
this adds more to the postulation that a company
which abandoned trolleys before buses were available,
which openly denigrated trolleys,  which balked at
light rail construction,  which balked at rebuilding
the Overbrook line did significantly over build the
light rail infrastructure to continue the denigration.

I thought this original postulation was 'interesting;'
after this simple review it gains a little more respect
doesn't it.  Maybe Mr.Tennyson has more inside
information on the project.  'If' this was the intention
of Pat it 'apparently' was not successful in
canceling light rail construction elsewhere.

Constant writing on this topic over 30+years has
worn itself out hasn't it.  It is time to put this
topic to rest.



 Phil


________________________________
> From: Ken and Tracie 
<ktjosephson at embarqmail.com>
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: Thu, April 8, 2010 5:11:17 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: 
Streetcars in D.C.

> Fine, since you can't find the flippin' 
"delete" key, I'm outta here!

> K.
________________________________
________________________________

>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: Phillip Clark Campbell 
<pcc_sr at yahoo.com>
>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org; ktjosephson at embarqmail.com
>> Sent: Sat, April 10, 2010 
10:26:50 AM
>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Streetcars in D.C.


>> Mr.Josephson;

>> This is preaching to the choir isn't it.  Isn't it in the archives
>> here where it is postulated that Pgh. used the excessive
>> 
overhead purposely to denigrate transit?  Endless discussion
>> of same hasn't changed the situation has it.  This does get
>> very tedious with time.
>> 
>> 
>> Phil
>> 
>> 
This is an extreme reaction isn't it.  Little in life is one sided;  if
you are irritated with a 
response then others are not overjoyed with
the same posts ad 
infinitum ad nauseum.  If the observation that
the delete key should 
be exercised is valid so is the observation
that discretion in 
posting needs attention.  These are flips sides of
a coin to use a 
phrase with a very thin edge in between.

The email list address 
in your original post was interesting:  '@prn....'
Since you work 
security for a hospital you are probably familiar with
'prn' as a Dr. shorthand on prescriptions for 'take-as-needed.'
It seems railfans 
rehash old stories 'as-needed' to comfort
themselves on the loss of 
trolleys or other similar topics.

Isn't this overhead 
construction some 30+years old now?  Has anyone
heard the 'industry' 
complain or cancel rail construction because of
unsightly overhead in Pittsburgh?  The only place I have seen such
comments is from the 
railfans.  We need to forget it and move on.
It is now ancient 
history.


Phil

> >> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >> Cc: Milwaukee-electric at dementia.org;
> >> Charlesebrown at webtv.net;
> >> SCOTT GREIG <m1903a1 at sbcglobal.net>;
> >> Rick Murphy <rpmurphy at charter.net>
> 
>> Sent: Wed, April 7, 2010 5:55:51 PM
> >> Subject: 
[PRCo] Fw: [SFMuniHistory] Streetcars in> D.C.
> 
> 
> >> Fwd: [SFMuniHistory] Streetcars in D.C.
> >> From: Richard C. DeArmond=20
> >> To: prn-list at sfu.ca=20
> 
> >>  Overhead trolley wire does not have to be
> 
>> massive and ugly.
> >> (As is in Pittsburgh) It can be almost invisible ...
> 
> 
> 
> >>  
Alan